GP-Pharmacist team delivers better outcomes for patients

This Family Doctor Week, the AMA is encouraging the Federal Government to support the AMA’s proposal to integrate non-dispensing pharmacists into GP-led primary care teams.

AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon, said today that the AMA’s Pharmacist in General Practice Incentive Program (PGPIP) would enhance the care provided to patients, provide new career opportunities for pharmacists, and create significant Budget savings across the whole health system.

“Integrating non-dispensing pharmacists within general practices as part of a GP-led multidisciplinary health team would improve patient health,” Dr Gannon said.

“Under the AMA proposal, pharmacists within general practice could assist with medication management, provide patient education on their medications, and support GP prescribing with advice on medication interactions and newly available medications.

“Evidence shows that the AMA plan would reduce unnecessary hospitalisations from adverse drug events, improve prescribing and use of medicine, and governments would save more than $500 million.

“When the Government is looking to make significant savings to the Budget bottom line, the AMA’s proposal delivers value without compromising patient care or harming the health sector,” Dr Gannon said.

The AMA’s plan is backed by an independent analysis from Deloitte Access Economics, which identified that the proposal would deliver $1.56 in savings for every dollar invested in it.

The Deloitte Access Economics analysis shows that, if 3100 general practices took up the PGPIP, substantial savings to the health system would include:

• a saving of $1.266 billion due to fewer hospital admissions related to the use of medications;
• PBS savings of $180.6 million because of better use of medications and improved compliance;
• patient savings of $49.8 million from reduced co-payments for medical consultations and medicines; and
• MBS savings of $18.1 million from fewer GP attendances due to adverse reactions to drugs.

The AMA has developed this model in consultation with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and other key GP organisations have also given their support to the concept.

The AMA proposal for the Pharmacist in General Practice Incentive Program, including the Deloitte Access Economics analysis, can be viewed at https://ama.com.au/article/general-practice-pharmacists-improving-patient-care

AMA Family Doctor Week is a celebration of the central role played by local GPs in delivering high quality primary health care across Australia.

The theme of Family Doctor Week, 24-30 July 2016, is ‘Your Family Doctor: Invaluable to your health’.

As part of Family Doctor Week, the AMA has released a video showcasing the important relationship family doctors have with their patients. To view the video, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVsy1lbplNA&feature=youtu.be

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